In 1999 I stood on a platform of pro-competition, reforming machinery of government and introducing more sustainable long–term public finances. I highlighted the need for a fairer deal for the urban Parishes and other social changes. I worked hard to progress a significant range of policies and initiatives I believed would improve the lives of all islanders. Having been born and raised in Jersey I studied Economics and Languages at Business School and then had the experience working for one of the world’s most respected private companies around the globe before returning to Jersey in 1998 for what was initially planned to be a short break before taking up a position in Africa to further develop my business career. However, after experiencing barriers to reduce costs for farmers, and having listened to various States debates, I became convinced Jersey needed to change its approach of the management of public finances, the economy, and be far more long-term and strategic. Even though the island had been enormously successful up to the end of the 1990s, there were storm clouds developing internationally, but only a few seemed to notice. For that reason, I decided to stand for the States, and I was privileged to be elected as a Deputy for St Helier, a Parish for whose people I have never forgotten gave me this first opportunity to serve the public of Jersey. Since 1999 the island has weathered financial crises, taken many difficult but necessary decisions to re-balance and re-structure the island’s public finances, developed a new framework for the development of the island’s Financial Services sector based on sound business and quality, and continues to lead the world in numerous areas of expertise. The need to respond to huge global challenges has resulted in building stronger and more co-operative relations in London with both the U.K. Government and many other countries and global organisations around the world. Domestically in 1999, Jersey Telecoms, Harbours, Postal and Housing were all States departments. Today SOJDC and all these departments have been incorporated into successful stand-alone entities. Competition has been introduced in many sectors, such as telecoms, and recently my long-term ambition of lower fuel prices has finally begun to take effect. There is still much to do. However, today there is much more longer term thinking, spending is no longer set annually, there is an independent statutory Fiscal Policy Panel, a Comptroller and Auditor General, investment strategies have been...

‘When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality can feel like oppression’ Author unknown This week the States of Jersey will vote to enact legislation to extend the rights established in law of heterosexuals to same-sex couples. A law to permit the marriage of two people, be they same sex or not, must be universal and non-discriminatory. Anything else would be abhorrent to me and I hope an overwhelming majority of others. The States voted for marriage equality in principle in October 2015. The votes for each part of the proposition was overwhelming. Note the last paragraph which set out timetable. Whilst it is accepted that the law drafting was complicated and the government has had other major priorities, it is a matter of regret that the law was lodged later than expected on 2nd October 2017. However, the debate commenced on 16th November 2017 and it was expected that the law would have been properly scrutinised and marriage equality made lawful in relatively early course. However as has happened a number of times before the debate was halted due to the decision of the Chairman of Corporate Services who used unilateral powers to delay and undertake further scrutiny. The right is not questioned – legislation should be scrutinised – but the Panel does not appear to have respected the agreed timetable or understand the urgency that there is a legitimate expectation that the law would take effect. The Panel have taken two months to conclude their work and have lodged a series of amendments. The amendments were the result of considerable amount of lobbying. The events of the last days...

The Oldham report highlights a political approach that in the past too often failed to ask questions and failed to recognise the importance of learning from evidence from the world beyond Jersey Jersey has much to be proud and has achieved much over the centuries which has changed the world around us for the better However like many places the Jersey Authorities from the 50’s to early 2000’s did not acknowledge the existence of Child Abuse The Oldham Report acknowledges it was not intentional However it is clear that this attitude failed and damaged irrevocably the lives of many There should have been for more questioning by politicians There has been too much reliance on process and hierarchy If a minister has appointed or accepted the continued employment of their most senior and therefore accountable that minister – whether assistant or not – is responsible for the acts and decisions of those officials and departments whether they know or knew of those acts or them or not It’s the fundamental foundation stone of parliamentary democracy There has been a failure to take responsibility There has been a failure to act There has been a failure to put in place the appropriate and qualified leadership in the States This has failed children and others for too long The expression the ‘Jersey Way’ was in common parlance 10 or more years ago and has recently re-surfaced Some will disagree, but to me this terminology has always had too many associations with isolationism inward-looking island nationalism a closed society sweeping things under the carpet being secretive and segregated detached a blinkered parochial approach...

Why am I writing this blog? The Chief Minister is facing a Vote-of-Confidence Whilst I have always supported the CM he is being pressurised by an unnamed group of people – and for the vote on Tuesday – members of the States including some ministers – who are demanding my re-appointment should be reversed. Certain ministers are conditioning their support justifying their demands because they have never agreed with me being a member of the Council of Ministers and/or they disagree with the CM’s Statement of the Jessica Simor QC report into the Jersey Innovation Fund. Democracy is about debate, discussion and appropriate challenge: it is how politics works. Ministers are responsible and accountable for policy decisions that impact people’s lives. The Jersey Action Group have run an online campaign against me. They have published the Ozouf Dossier This has the risk of compromising my ability to serve – I have now no option to defend myself. I will always put people and Jersey first. Votes of No Confidence Chris Taylor, the Constable of St John, first threatened a vote of no confidence in October 2016. The C&AG report into the Innovation Fund was published on the 12th January 2017. Any member is entitled to bring a Vote of No Confidence in any Minister, Assistant Minister, the Council of Ministers or the Chief Minister. That’s democracy at work. A proposition was finally lodged on the 7th June 2017. There are three reasons cited for the...

Why am I writing this blog? I have no option but to speak out as it’s clear the CM – who I support – is being pressurised by an unnamed group of people who are demanding my head for allegations that have either been investigated and dealt with and being tried by kangaroo courts with no option to defend myself. I will always put Jersey first. But what has been going on in recent days is beyond the pale. Votes of No Confidence A vote of no confidence was threatened in October 2016 by Chris Taylor, the Constable of St John. The C&AG report into the Innovation Fund was published on the 12th January 2017. Any member is entitled to bring a Vote of No Confidence in any Minister, Assistant Minister, the Council of Ministers or the Chief Minister. That’s democracy at work. 9 months of after threatening, a proposition was lodged on the 7th June 2016. The are three reasons cited for the Vote of No Confidence in the Chief Minister 1. Hospital Funding late withdrawal 2. Alleged failures in Human Resources 3. Innovation Fund – disputed findings of Simor Inquiry I wish to serve the people of Jersey, and, as repeated, doing so with a defined role and a States-Assembly mandate to discharge the job that I have been asked to do. The pressure to resign, and leaks of my alleged sacking, is intensifying ahead of the Vote of No Confidence in the Chief Minister which has been brought allegedly for a number of reasons. My reappointment is Now said to be the catalyst. However, the proposition...

Here is what I hope is an a more detailed explanation to the Expenses which were answered in a recent FOI. The FOI answer https://www.gov.je/Freedom%20of%20Information%20library/ID%20FOI%20Senator%20Ozouf%20Expenses%2020170221.pdf BACKGROUND Jersey has some of the far reaching Freedom of Imformation Laws of any country. Here is our law https://www.jerseylaw.je/laws/enacted/Pages/L-15-2014.aspx The following request was received. The following answer was given My concern is that the data issued had no explanation. It does not the full picture of a ministers travel, transportation and accomdation costs. There is understable concern amongst most islanders say that expenses should be valid and justified. After numerous scandals about in the expanses of UK MP’s and other places – it’s quite understandable the public want assurances that there are not incidents such as the expense of business class travel to Cape Town. Whilst there had been previous little criticism in Jersey about expenses – as its public money the public has a right to know more than just the totals but the detail of expenses should explain the activity, why it was incurred and justified. I announced some ago the intention to publish a more detailed breakdown of the expenses. An FOI been published from records held, however it is not complete and doesn’t not give the information. I’ve spent of hours of work to check the information published...

I am once again being pressurised to resign, step down. The pressure is coming from within and without the States. There is a specific online campaign group which has published an ‘Ozouf Dossier’. This alone has generated a significant amount of social media comment – much of it by anonymous, shadowy figures hiding behind aliases. The Waterfront Action Group or Jersey Action Group is attacking me again after ditching its obsession with campaigning just against the International Finance Centre. This group has said the Finance Centre was going to bankrupt Jersey, wasn’t needed, and prejudiced the private sector. They have said: Jersey’s Public Finances had a massive inherited and previously hidden black hole which I was responsible for and we were going to go into massive debt. The Finance sector is going into melt down and zero-ten is a disaster. Police Station was a disaster and should have been built at Lime Grove and the existing site. And so on and so on. There are certainly some issues which should not have been allowed to happen by this and the previous Council of Ministers. The Group’s grievances have caused huge angst and arguably have been an extraordinary waste and diversion of valuable time. This group appear to be riding on a wave of global dislike for the ruling establishment – most especially me – as they see them and riding the crest of the wave of the issues which have gone wrong in Jersey such as the Innovation Fund and so on. This group is an alliance of the the genuinely dissatisfied, often undisclosed conflicted self-interested vested interests who...